Invasion of Ukraine

[Edward64]

Supposedly no confirmation it was Ukrainians but you'd think it was them or someone allied with them.

Some pretty bad stuff.

40 dead, more than 100 wounded, says FSB
Forty people are dead and more than 100 others are wounded following shooting attacks at Crocus City Hall outside Moscow on Friday night, according to Russia’s Federal Security Service.

According to IFX, up to five gunmen were involved in the attacks.

[GrantDawg]

Looks like a lot of speculation about a "false flag" attack to try drum up more recruitment and support for the Ukraine attack, but they just now announced arrest warrants for 5 men from a Muslim-majority region in Norrh Ossetia. There are reports one gunman is already in custody. Meanwhile the concert venue is burning.

Edit: No dola. Ed posted.

[RainMaker]

It's probably from the Southern region of Russia. They've been battling extremists in the region for a long time.

[JPhillips]

ISIS has claimed responsibility.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Not sure I remember the last reasonably-sized news story that drew more bot posts to Twitter than this one.

[CrimsonFox]

i see newly reelected putin is celebrating his victory with a mass shooting

[Edward64]

Good that it wasn’t Ukraine.

They would have lost a lot of western support.

[Edward64]

Just a thought experiment.

Assuming they did do the attack ... anyone outraged, disgusted etc. by the treatment of the perps?

[Edward64]

Next week should be fun! Let's get to a bill and a vote, one way or another.

The Senate faces a tough choice on Ukraine aid as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says the House will move a Ukraine package after the April recess, but one that could be strikingly different from the $95 billion package the upper chamber passed in February.

The Speaker has already told Republican senators that a substantial portion of the assistance in the House bill would be provided in the form of a loan, an idea championed by former President Trump but initially dismissed by Senate leaders in both parties.

I like the "loan" compromise, an easy way to win some GOP votes. I'd assume when the war ends and whoever is in power can give good or extend repayment terms.

He has floated the idea of attaching language to reverse President Biden’s moratorium on new permits for liquified natural gas export facilities or provisions to pay for some aid to Ukraine by seizing Russian assets.

I'd think small price for Joe to pay especially in lieu of border security.

But she warned adding strong border security is a “non-starter for the Democrats, and the Speaker knowns that.”

All in all, seems the GOP should have made a deal back in Dec for Ukraine-aid-is-a-loan and also border security.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Good that it wasn’t Ukraine.

They would have lost a lot of western support.

Russia is our enemy and we've been pseudo-allied with ISKP for the past decade. Why would the West be upset with a group we helped create attacking an enemy?

[cuervo72]

Horseshoe complete.

Amendments offered to House Ukraine aid bill

Rep. M. Taylor Greene (R-GA): "Requires all Members of Congress who vote in favor of Act to conscript in the Ukrainian Military"

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL): Appointing Rep. M. Taylor Greene as "Putin's Special envoy to Congress"

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 18, 2024

[RainMaker]

I mean, she's kind of right. What's the point of the weapons if we're not taking the war seriously? Outside of the obvious funneling of money to defense contractors.

[SirFozzie]

Most of us are taking the war seriously. She's not.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Most of us are taking the war seriously. She's not.

Tell that to the Biden administration.




[SirFozzie]

there's a difference between "Wanting Ukraine to be able to defend itself against Russian aggression" and "Willing to start World War III"

[RainMaker]

Hitting their oil refineries seems like a really good way to defend yourself against Russian aggression. It's attacking Russia's biggest weakness. This is a war after all.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Most of us are taking the war seriously. She's not.

She may actually have a more realistic attitude about it.

And she ain't somebody I tend to give high marks for connectivity to reality.

[dubb93]

We should take it further as people tend to serve too long in Congress. You vote yes to a medical bill you are required to go become a doctor. Yes to a tax bill you go off to work for the IRS. You vote yes on an infrastructure bill you go sign up with your state department of transportation for full time employment. Each member gets one yes vote and then we find them a real job in that field.

[RainMaker]

Ukraine has forced conscription. So you're forcing others to die for your cause. Seems only fair to have some skin in the game.

Those other things you mentioned does not include a death sentence for tens of thousands of people who want no part of the war.

[cuervo72]

H.R. 8035 – Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 | House of Representatives Committee on Rules

https://amendments-rules.house.gov/a...8131602176.pdf

127 Version 1 Greene (GA) Republican Prohibits funding until Ukraine lifts restrictions on the right of ethnic minorities, including Hungarians in Transcarpathia, to use their native languages in schools.

Okay then...

[Edward64]

Pretty good but like this one better.

Access to this page has been denied

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) trolled Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) with a pair of amendments that highlight the Georgia Republican’s frequent embrace of pro-Russia misinformation and her opposition to foreign aid.

The first amendment calls for Greene to be appointed “Vladimir Putin’s Special Envoy to the United States Congress.”

The second amendment renames Greene’s office in the Cannon House Office Building as the “Neville Chamberlain Room” — a reference to the World War II-era British prime minister who pursued a failed policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany in the hope of avoiding a larger war.

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 8035
OFFERED BY Mr. Moskowitz of Florida

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following:
SEC. ___

Resolved, that 403 Cannon House Office Building be renamed the “Neville Chamberlain Room”

Kinda childish but why the heck not.

[Edward64]

Ukraine claims a Russian Tu-22M3 shot down over Russia. But Russia claims technical malfunction. Russia reports at least 3 of 4 survived.

The Russian defence ministry said: 'A Russian Air Force's Tu-22M3 crashed in the Stavropol region after performing a combat mission while returning to its home airfield.

'The pilots ejected, three crew members were evacuated by a search and rescue team, and a search for one pilot is underway.

'There was no ammunition on board, the aircraft went down in a deserted area. There is no damage on the ground.

'According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a technical malfunction.'

Ukraine meanwhile claimed the plane had been downed by the airforce working in conjunction with Ukrainian intelligence.

Morbidly fascinating watching it tailspin to the ground like that.